Former Miss New York Thatiana Diaz, 31, expressed her lack of surprise at the recent turmoil within the Miss USA organization, believing that it was long overdue. She highlighted the various pressures and expectations placed on contestants, impacting their mental health. Diaz emphasized that beneath the crowns, there are human beings who face challenges and struggles.
Following Miss USA Noelia Voigt’s voluntary resignation, fans noticed a coded message in her statement that indicated feeling silenced. This was followed by the resignation of Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, who cited misalignment with the organization’s values. Diaz, who was crowned Miss New York in 2015, resonated with the issues faced by Voigt and Srivastava, having experienced similar struggles with body image and external judgment during her reign.
Diaz lamented the bullying and harassment allegations within the Miss USA organization, stating that she felt tokenized and misrepresented. She recalled feeling pressured to conform to stereotypes and fabricate a traumatic narrative to fit a particular image. Despite forming strong friendships and developing communication skills through pageants, Diaz faced challenges when trying to address issues within the organization, fearing backlash and accusations of ingratitude.
While Diaz acknowledges the longstanding issues within the pageant industry, she believes that recent events signal a potential decline in its relevance. The Miss Universe organization’s ownership change and subsequent bankruptcy filing have added to the uncertainty surrounding the future of pageantry. Diaz noted that former beauty queens are hesitant to encourage their children to follow in their footsteps, as social media provides alternative platforms for empowerment and self-expression.
Diaz emphasized the need for authenticity and empowerment within the pageant system, suggesting that allowing contestants to be themselves and leveraging the insights of former participants could lead to positive changes. She sees this moment as a pivotal juncture for pageantry to decide its direction. Diaz hopes that the good elements of pageantry can be preserved, but acknowledges that significant changes are necessary for the industry to evolve in a more inclusive and supportive manner.